Welcome to greenwich.org, a column that shines a light on local nonprofit organizations and the people who make them work. Greenwich is a town filled with groups that provide a wealth of services for those in need, and our goal is to share their stories with you. This week, we focus on the ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education and speak with Dr. Paul Sethi, orthopedic surgeon and president of the foundation.

Q: When was your organization founded?

A: The ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education (ONSF), a Greenwich Hospital Alliance, was founded in 2008 by a group of orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, community leaders and concerned individuals who realized the importance of improving patient care for those affected by musculoskeletal disorders -- issues that affect our bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. Each of us wants to lead an active life. We want to watch our children play injury-free sports and, at the same time, want our parents to age successfully by staying active. Medically, we understand the physical needs of school-age children, student athletes, active adults and seniors and have designed programs for the community that offer information about injury prevention, treatment, safety and wellness. In 2012, we took the next step in education when we completed an Arthroscopy, Surgical Skills and Biomechanical Laboratory in Greenwich that created an ideal environment for research and education.

We ask and answer musculoskeletal questions that affect all our lives with the goal of keeping us in motion.

Tell us about your organization's mission.

Our mission is to improve standards of excellence for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders through clinical research, physician and patient education and community outreach programs. In order to accomplish the goals of our three-part strategy, we conduct advanced clinical research in our state-of-the art lab. Mentorship, for us, is invaluable. We are able to encourage bright young minds to pursue medicine. The students remind the doctors to think clearly and force us to understand and explain the logic behind our thought processes. As mentors, we never get the chance to grow stale. The mentor-mentee model is a vital component of medical education, from teaching surgical skills to international orthopedic surgeons, welcoming interns into the research program, allowing pre-med and college students to serve as summer interns or conducting Mini-Med school for high school STEM program students. ONSF strives to be a community outreach leader in organizing free seminars to people of all ages sharing the latest concepts in order to live healthy, safe and active lives. Isn't that what we all hope to achieve?

Who do you serve?

We serve Greenwich and surrounding communities in Fairfield and Westchester Counties and beyond -- school-age children, student athletes, active adults, weekend warriors and seniors. All our education and community outreach seminars are free of charge. Doctors, nurses, physicians' assistants and physical therapists attend our annual Medical Education Conference without any cost and earn education credits from this accredited course at Greenwich Hospital. Children and teens benefit from concussion seminars held in partnership with the NFL Alumni CT, from ACL injury prevention talks and videos, from pitching and throwing workshops and from ThinkFirst, a safety program for young children under the direction of Dr. Scott Simon. Doctors along with professional athletes from both the NFL and MLB teaching our kids how to avoid and recognize injuries is an influential experience for athlete, parent and coach. For adults -- elite athletes or weekend warriors -- we offer injury prevention seminars in cycling, golfing, running and skiing just to name a few.

What kind of volunteer opportunities do you have?

We rely on volunteers who help with all aspects of our mission and utilize the skills of our board of directors, doctors, coaches, trainers and other individuals to develop programs that are vital to healthy living. Sound advice is a valuable commodity! Our fundraising efforts, an annual golf outing and 5K run/walk, depend on the talent and commitment of volunteers. For example, the ONSF 5K attracts student volunteers from local middle and high schools and from the Junior United Way and the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. These kids help us tremendously and, at the same time, receive community service credits. This is the ultimate win-win!

What is your biggest challenge going forward?

Looking ahead, our greatest challenge will be to keep the momentum going. These past few years, have brought great success to ONSF, and we want to continue to stay within our mission, to conduct the highest quality research, to share our knowledge with medical professionals and the community and to continue to guide people of all ages toward achieving healthy, active lives. I truly believe that the next few years promise to be better than all previous years, perhaps combined.

How are you funded?

We count on the generosity of individuals, foundations, businesses and corporations and bring these donors together at our fundraising events.

What are your plans for the future?

We would like to continue spreading the word in order to ensure the quality of our research, education and community outreach programs. Our research position will continue to focus on solving musculoskeletal disorders and advancing treatment. I am equally excited about the prospect that our education opportunities will continue to define ONSF. Finally, I envision expanding our partnerships with various community resources to increase awareness and underline the significance of our motto "Putting Knowledge in Motion." It is truly amazing what strong support has done for this organization, and we feel that all of our goals will be surpassed in the future.